Franklin County prison nurse facing 75 drug charges

Authorities said an investigation began after the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office became suspicious of invoices for prescription medication which was ordered for inmates by nurse Tamsey H. Watkins.

Watkins is an employee of Southern Health Partners, which provides contract medical services to correctional facilities, including the Franklin County Detention Center.

An investigation determined that the prescriptions were ordered for inmates who were no longer in the custody of the Franklin County Detention Center.

Watkins, 37, of 33 Duke Valentine Wynne Road in Louisburg, was charged with 25 felony counts each of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud, trafficking opiates by possession and trafficking opiates by transport.

Watkins was being held in the Franklin County Detention Center under a $250,000 secured bond.